Why is soil important to plants?

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Soil is important to plants because it stores nutrients and serves as a medium for growth. It is an anchor for roots and also holds water needed by plants for moisture. Soil contains the air, water and food that provides a suitable place for plants to grow.

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The properties of soil that affect plant growth include texture, aeration (i.e., permeability), porosity, water holding capacity and aggregate size.

A vital function of soil is storing and supplying minerals and nutrients essential for plant life. This is referred to as soil fertility. The proportions of clay and organic matter found in soil influence its fertility.

As a regulator and collector of water, soil absorbs and stores moisture for plants and organisms to use. It also shelters plants against extreme temperatures and protects roots from direct sunlight. Moreover, living organisms of various sizes thrive in soil. There are microorganisms and insects in soil that improve it, allowing plants to grow better. These tiny microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, decompose the soil and transform old, dead materials into raw materials that plants need for growth.

The quality of soil is important for the health of plants and the humans and animals that consume plants.

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Earthworms provide many positive benefits to improve plant growth, including aerating the soil, improving drainage and providing nutrients the plants need. They help to turn the soil and bring mix organic materials from the surface so the forces of nature can break down these products to further enrich the soil.

Soil conservation is important because soil is crucial for many aspects of human life as it provides food, filters air and water and helps to decompose biological waste into nutrients for new plant life. Soil can be drained away or contaminated, destroying it for use.

Topsoil is composed of soil containing a high amount of organic material that is rich in nutrients. Most topsoil contains various amounts of clay, sand and silt. Topsoil comes from the topmost layer of the Earth's surface.